MSU football: Spartans getting look at TCU 'D'

'They've got athletes all over the board'

Dec. 16, 2012

In this Oct. 27, 2012, file photo, TCU defensive end Devonte Fields, left, pressures Oklahoma State quarterback Wes Lunt, right, during an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla. Field as selected as the AP's Big 12 defensive player of the year, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Brody Schmidt, File) / AP

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl

EAST LANSING — Le’Veon Bell said TCU’s defense reminds him of Nebraska. Chris McDonald said the “read and react” style of the TCU defensive line is “a little like Notre Dame.”

The Spartans (6-6) are starting to become familiar with their 7-5 opponent in the Dec. 29 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., and for MSU’s offensive players that means some impressive film to watch.

“They’ve got athletes all over the board, I’m not even gonna lie,” MSU receiver Keith Mumphery said of the Horned Frogs. “They’re very athletic.”

MSU’s isn’t the only esteemed defense appearing at Sun Devil Stadium. The Spartans are fourth nationally in total defense (273.3 yards per game) while the Horned Frogs are 18th (332.0), playing in the offensively prolific Big 12.

TCU features freshman defensive end Devonte Fields, who had nine sacks and 17 ½ tackles for loss this season. Scout.com named him National Freshman of the Year, and cornerback Jason Verrett (six interceptions) was named a first team All-American by Sports Illustrated.

TCU goes primarily with a 4-2-5 look, with two linebackers and five defensive backs.

• FOWLER ON A ROLL: Much like MSU as a whole, Bennie Fowler had his ups and downs in his first full season with significant playing time.

There were missed opportunities on some occasions and also times the fourth-year junior wide receiver made clutch plays .

And after ending the regular-season with seven catches for a career-high 101 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota last month, Fowler is ready to carry that momentum into the bowl game.

“I just try to continue to improve and get better every day,” Fowler said.

“Bowl practice is going well for me and I want to continue to move in a positive direction.”

Fowler’s strong finish was part of the improvement by a young receiver group as the season progressed.

“We’ve made a lot of growth. We’ve still gotta make the big plays, the impossible possible, but I think we’ve made a lot of growth,” said Fowler, who ended the regular-season with a team-best 524 receiving yards, four touchdowns and tied with Mumphery for the lead with 41 catches.

Fowler expects that growth to continue throughout the 15 bowl practices.

“We can grow a lot. This is almost like a mini spring practice. You can gain a lot over spring,” Fowler said. “We can get more timing down with (quarterback Andrew) Maxwell, the offensive line can get better, the timing is going to get better.”